Notts County boss Martin Allen led the tributes to Sutton United after watching his side survive an FA Cup second round scare on Sunday.

The Magpies were second best for much of the weekend's match played out in front of a 3,704 strong crowd at Gander Green Lane, which saw United crash 2-0.

It could have been much better had Leroy Griffiths converted a first half penalty with boss Paul Doswell's Sutton trailing 1-0 to Jeff Hughes' opener.

But it wasn't to be as former Brentford manager Allen was left to breath easy as first Karl Murray saw red for two yellow cards late in the game and then Hughes bundled in an injury-time second.

"You've got to give them credit for the way the people behind the scenes welcomed us into the club," said Allen.

"All the people made it nice for us. They were polite and well-mannered.

"The way therir team played and all their FA Cup history meant we were set up for the giantkilling act.

"We rode our luck a little bit a times, but you have to give our players an awful lot of credit.

"Mentally these are difficult games to come to, when the crowd is so behind the team.

"Their players find a little bit extra as the underdog, the supporters find a little bit extra, every pass is cheered a bit more and every tackle is a bit more tenacious.

"Thankfully we weathered the storm."

Doswell thought County goalkeeper Stuart Nelson's penalty heroics were the turning point, but the Meadow Lane chief reckoned it was written in the stars.

"I just get this vibe that Stuart Nelson is going to save every penalty. He gives you that confidence he is going to save it," he added.

"It wasn't a rotten penalty, it was a great save."